Northern Ireland Civil Service: Harassment

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many civil servants in Northern Ireland have made complaints of harassment or bullying against colleagues; how many complaints were upheld in each of the 10 years ending 31 December 2003; what is the number by department; how many complaints were made by females against males; and how many complaints were made by males against females.

Baroness Amos: In the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003, 338 complaints were formally made under departmental harassment and bullying procedures, of which 129 were made by females against males and 36 were made by males against females. During the same period 87 complaints were upheld and one was partially upheld.
	The following tables provide a breakdown of this information by department, for each year from 1994 to 2003 inclusive. The figures include Northern Ireland government departments, their agencies and NDPBs and take account of complaints taken by civil servants against non civil servants. Some departments have not been able to supply data over the full period, 1994 to 2003, due to the reorganisation following devolution and departmental policies on the retention of papers.
	
		(a) Number of civil servants in Northern Ireland who have made complaints of harassment or bullying against colleagues
		
			  DARD DCAL DE DEL DETI DFP OFMDFM DHSSPS DOE DRD DSD NIO 
			 2003 0 1 4 1 0 2 0 2 2 10 8 6 
			 2002 9 0 0 3 3 4 1 3 1 2 15 6 
			 2001 13 2 3 3 3 3 1 2 9 6 6 6 
			 2000 20  1 8 0 2 0 4 5 8 19 6 
			 1999 4  6  0 0 0 3 8  10 10 
			 1998 4  2  3 1 0 4 12  2 4 
			 1997 11  1  2   1 6   4 
			 1996 20   2 2   8 
			 1995 40   1 2   4 
			 1994 1   10 
			 Total 67 3 17 15 12 12 2 23 47 26 60 54 
		
	
	
		(b) Number of complaints upheld in each of the 10 years ending 31 December 2003
		
			  DARD DCAL DE DEL DETI DFP OFMDFM DHSSPS DOE DRD DSD NIO 
			 2003 4 *1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 
			 2002  0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 5 
			 2001 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 
			 2000 2  2 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 2 
			 1999 0  0  0 0 0 2 2  3 2 
			 1998 0  0  0 0 0 3 3  1 1 
			 1997 1  1  0   0 1   6 
			 1996 10   1 0   0 
			 1995 10   1 1   1 
			 1994 01   00 
			 Total 11 *1 5 4 1 2 0 8 9 5 24 18 
		
	
	* DCAL—The case was taken in 2003 but was only concluded in 2004.
	
		(c) Number of complaints by females against males
		
			  DARD DCAL DE DEL DETI DFP OFMDFM DHSSPS DOE DRD DSD NIO 
			 2003 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 4 
			 2002 5 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 3 4 
			 2001 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 2 4 2 2 3 
			 2000 2  0 4 0 1 0 2 3 1 9 3 
			 1999 1  2  0 0 0 0 1  3 9 
			 1998 2  0  1 1 0 1 3  2 2 
			 1997 3  0  2   0 3   3 
			 1996 00   2 1   7 
			 1995 10   1 1   3 
			 1994 01   00 
			 Total 14 0 4 9 6 5 0 11 17 5 20 38 
		
	
	
		(d) Number of complaints by males against females
		
			  DARD DCAL DE DEL DETI DFP OFMDFM DHSSPS DOE DRD DSD NIO 
			 2003 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 
			 2002 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 2 
			 2001 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 
			 2000 2  1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1999 2  1  0 0 0 1 2  0 1 
			 1998 0  0  0 0 0 2 1  0 0 
			 1997 1  0  0   0 1   0 
			 1996 00   0 0   1 
			 1995 00   0 0   0 
			 1994 00   00 
			 Total 5 0 4 2 0 0 2 3 6 0 7 5

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Public Holidays

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the annual cost in employees' salaries and related employers' costs of allowing Northern Ireland civil servants three days more public holidays than civil servants in Great Britain.

Baroness Amos: Northern Ireland civil servants in the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office receive 1.5 extra public and privilege days when compared to civil servants in Great Britain, owing to the greater number of bank holidays in Northern Ireland. These 1.5 days equate to approximately £2.8 million in salaries and related employers' costs.

Northern Ireland: Departmental Underspend

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the underspent funding for each Northern Ireland department in the year 2003–04 has been transferred to the current year; and in each case for what purpose the provision is being used.

Baroness Amos: For some categories of expenditure (mainly investment) the sums unspent are automatically reallocated to departments for expenditure in future years. For these categories of expenditure the amount of underspend carried forward from 2003–04 into 2004–05 in respect of each Northern Ireland department is set out in the table below and amounts to £195.4 million. The remaining amounts unspent are incorporated within the total sums available for allocation to departments in future years in accordance with current arrangements for public expenditure planning and control.
	
		Amount of underspend carried forward from 2003–04 to 2004–05 in respect of each NI Department
		
			 Department Amount carried into 2004–05(£ million) 
			 Agriculture & Rural Development 20.4 
			 Culture, Arts & Leisure 2.9 
			 Education 58.5 
			 Employment & Learning 10.3 
			 Enterprise, Trade & Investment 1.3 
			 Finance & Personnel 12.2 
			 Health, Social Services & Public Safety 53.7 
			 Environment 6.6 
			 Regional Development 10.3 
			 Social Development 19.2 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First   Minister 0.1 
			 Total 195.4

Northern Ireland: PEACE II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the detailed analysis of community uptake of PEACE II funding, required by the Special European Union Programmes Body, will be published.

Baroness Amos: SEUPB has commissioned the community uptake under PEACE II. The consultants appointed are due to report at the end of March 2005 and it should be published soon afterwards.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether KPMG were engaged by Waterways Ireland to manage the recruitment process for directors, as indicated in the minutes of a North/South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways sector meeting of 23 November 2001 (Paper NSMC W1 3(01)1); if so, what was the process of such engagement; and when it was implemented.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 12 November 2004 (Official Report, col. WA 101).
	I would add that, following a tender process which commenced on 21 January, KPMG were appointed on 24 April 2001 to manage the recruitment of four directors for Waterways Ireland.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether four directors of Waterways Ireland were in post by June 2002 as indicated in the minutes of a North/South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways sector meeting of 26 June 2002 (Paper NSMC W1 1(02)6); and, if so, on what dates each started employment.

Baroness Amos: Four directors were in place by June 2002. The Director of Finance and Personnel commenced employment on 19 November 2001; the Director of Operations commenced employment on 5 December 2001; the Director of Technical Services commenced employment on 2 January 2002 and the Director of Marketing and Communications was appointed on 6 June 2002 with effect from 1 April 2002 following his designation and transfer from the department previously responsible for waterways in the South.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 16 December 2004 (WA 101), whether members of Waterways Ireland located in the United Kingdom are subject to United Kingdom law.

Baroness Amos: The staff of Waterways Ireland are subject to the law of the United Kingdom when they are in the United Kingdom.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 October 2004 (WA 50) concerning allegations of staff bullying at Waterways Ireland, why it took from July 2003 to November 2004 to carry out the investigation.

Baroness Amos: The investigation commenced in November 2003 on the appointment, by the sponsor departments, of two joint investigators. The investigation involved sensitive personnel matters and it proved to be complex and difficult. There was no unnecessary delay and the investigators submitted their joint report to the departments in November 2004.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the 2005 budgets for each of the two sections of the North/South Language Body; and what percentage increase this represents over the 2004 budgets.

Baroness Amos: The 2005 budget figures for the North/South Language Body are based on draft business plans provided by the agencies. A breakdown for each agency and the percentage increases compared to 2004 are set out in the table below.
	
		
			  2004 budget£ Sterling (millions) 2005 budget£ Sterling (millions) Percentage increase£ Sterling 
			 North/South LanguageBody 14.603 14.737 0.92 
			 Ulster-Scots Agency 1.704 1.769 3.81

PSNI/An Garda Siochana Co-operation

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 December 2004 (WA 54) regarding co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and An Garda Siochana, whether the claim that there are "excellent levels of co-operation" between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana is consistent with the statement that "it is not possible to identify specific operational successes resulting from this co-operation".

Baroness Amos: The excellent levels of co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Siochana in tackling those organised criminals who seek to operate in both jurisdictions is evidenced by the number of successful cross-border joint investigations against individuals who seek to profit from organised crime. For example, in December 2004, in an operation co-ordinated by PSNI, police on both sides of the border and in GB conducted a number of searches as part of an investigation against organised criminals suspected of illegal waste dumping and smuggling operations.
	It is not appropriate to comment on, or identify further, the specific nature or level of that co-operation as it relates to ongoing investigations and continuing efforts to detect offenders.
	The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment which has primary responsibility for tackling illegal dumping in Northern Ireland has also been assisted by PSNI and An Garda Siochana in a number of its investigations. It is not possible, however, separately to identify specific operational successes resulting from this co-operation.

Northern Ireland: Community Development Grants

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What groups in Northern Ireland have received community development grants in each year since 2000; how much has been received; and for what purpose.

Baroness Amos: Information on grants to the voluntary and community sector by government departments across all regions of the UK is collated by the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office on an annual basis. This includes funding under a wide range of activities many of which can be defined under the generic heading of community development. In total during 2000–01 £120,613,358 was provided and £147,451,863 in 2001–02. This information is reproduced and analysis provided in a published report, Central Government Funding of Voluntary and Community Organisations 1982–1983 to 2001–02. Copies of the document are available from the Library. This includes details of grants made by Northern Ireland government. Currently the exercise to capture information for the period 2003–04 is underway and will be available later in the year.

Northern Ireland Teachers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 15 December 2004 (WA 84) concerning the exclusive employment of Roman Catholic teachers in Roman Catholic schools, how this exemption from the European Equal Treatment Directive furthers reconciliation of historical differences on religions.

Baroness Amos: The schools sector in Northern Ireland reflects parental choice with children attending controlled schools (mainly Protestant pupils), maintained schools (mainly Catholic pupils), integrated schools and Irish medium schools. The exemption in relation to the recruitment of teachers recognises the complexion of these schools including the developing integrated sector.
	The exemption does not affect the responsibility of all teachers (including those in a school where the teachers and pupils are predominantly of one religion) to prepare children to live in a shared society where differences are respected.
	The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in 2003 conducted an investigation under Article 71 of the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998 in fulfilment of its duty to keep under review the exemption of teachers from the legislation and will be publishing the outcome of that investigation which the Government will be considering. The Government also invited views on the exemption in their recent consultation on the single Equality Bill for Northern Ireland, responses to which are currently being analysed.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What controversy the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was referring to in the Northern Ireland Office press release of 17 December 2004 regarding the failure to select a new Chief Commissioner for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Baroness Amos: The term "controversial" in the press release was a broad reference to past criticism of NIHRC from a range of perspectives.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the appointees to the second Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have not been announced yet; and when they will be announced.

Baroness Amos: Interviews for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are still continuing and the appointments will be announced in due course.

Northern Ireland: Political Advisers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the document of 10 April 2003 entitled Ministerial Decision-Making—Interim Procedures, paragraph 6, envisaged the inclusion of political advisers in the consultation process through the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Ministers.

Baroness Amos: As stated in paragraph 6 of the document of 10 April 2003, the role of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, along with the NSMC Joint Secretariat and Department of Foreign Affairs, is to ensure that papers being submitted for ministerial decision are within the terms of the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8 March 1999, as amended by the exchange of notes of 19 November 2002. Consultation with the special advisers was not envisaged as part of this process.

Northern Ireland: Landlords/Tenants

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) whether it is permitted for landlords in Northern Ireland to take action against tenants in respect of the behaviour of visitors;
	(b) if so, whether the Government consider such action to be equitable; and
	(c) whether current legislation on this subject is, or is likely to be, subject to judicial review.

Baroness Amos: Under the terms of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 public sector landlords—the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and registered housing associations—have the power to seek repossession of a property from a tenant if the tenant fails to ensure that any individual residing with them, or visiting the property, behaves in a reasonable and appropriate manner.
	Yes. Tenants are responsible for their households and are accountable for the conduct of visitors or guests invited by other household members if they have tolerated or accepted such individuals in their homes. The Government consider that the rights of individuals who suffer as a result of anti-social behaviour should be protected.
	A judicial review has been called into the proposed scheme for the registration of houses in multiple occupation—provision for which is included in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003—and which includes measures for dealing with anti-social behaviour of tenants and visitors.

Northern Ireland: North Mud Flats

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they propose to take against those who ploughed up, on 27 and 28 December 2004 and 3 January 2005, the bird grounds at Strangford Lough which are known as North Mud Flats and which are protected as an area of special scientific interest.

Baroness Amos: The Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service [EHS] is carrying out investigations into the damage which occurred on 27 and 28 December 2004 and 3 January 2005 on lands, known as the North Mud Flats, that are within the Strangford Lough area of special scientific interest.
	EHS will assess the evidence gathered through these investigations with a view to referring a case file to the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on the appropriateness of bringing this matter before the courts as an offence under the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.

Irish language Broadcast Fund

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 14 January (WA 83) concerning an Irish Language Film and Television Fund, what are the levels of resources to be made available; and when similar funding will be made available for Ulster-Scots language and cultural activities.

Baroness Amos: £12 million is available for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and £12 milllion for an Ulster Scots Academy.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much funding per head of the population they propose for the Northern Ireland Arts Council; and how that figure compares with the current allocation to the Arts Council of England.

Baroness Amos: In the financial year 2005–06 the amount of government funding allocated per head of population to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will be £6.32 and to the Arts Council of England £8.27.
	Funding for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland does not include government funding for arts and business, which in England is delegated to the Arts Council of England. Adjusting for this discrepancy gives a figure of £6.58 per head of population in Northern Ireland.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the government of the Republic of China regarding the treatment of the South Korean National Assembly member, Kim Moon-sik, and three others, during a fact-finding visit to China, when they raised the abduction and possible death of Reverend Kim Dong-sik in North Korea.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are aware of these cases. We regularly raise human rights concerns with the People's Republic of China. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary did so during his recent visit to China on 20–21 January. We raised concerns about freedom of expression and North Korean border crossers at our biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue, the last round of which was held in Beijing on 22 November 2004.
	We continue to urge China to observe its obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention for Refugees and to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to the China/North Korea border region.

Algeria and Tunisia: Human Rights

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean raised human rights issues on her visit to Algeria and Tunisia; whether she sought or received assurances that those countries would comply fully with the United Nations Human Rights Commission's special procedures; and whether she explained to the President of Algeria that the proposal he made on 1 November 2004 for an amnesty for crimes committed by the army, police and security forces could not lawfully cover acts of torture.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I discussed a wide range of human rights issues during my recent visit to Algeria and Tunisia. The UK—with EU partners—continues to raise human rights issues with both Algeria and Tunisia in the context of EU political dialogue.

Royal Navy: Sports Funding

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is correct, as reported in La Tribune de Courchevel, that the Royal Navy is holding ski and snowboard championships in Les Menuires, France, in January attended by 1,300 people; and, if so
	(a) what is the purpose of the Royal Navy being involved in skiing and snowboarding;
	(b) what is the cost to public funds of the championships; and
	(c) how many of the attendees will be paid for by public funds, and on what basis.

Lord Bach: Sport plays an important part in the services, making a key contribution to recruitment, retention, team building and fitness. The Royal Navy provides opportunities for personnel to participate in a wide range of activities, including alpine skiing and snowboarding, for which public funding is approved.
	The Royal Navy ski and snowboard championships are taking place at Les Menuires between 10 and 24 January 2005. Regular service personnel are expected to meet the costs of attending, but are entitled to claim an allowance towards their travel and subsistence in accordance with the normal rules for recreational travel. In addition, there is a training bursary of £75 available to beginners attending the event for the first time. The Navy meets the full costs of attendance for three officers with responsibility for event preparation, safety and conduct. Some 900 personnel are attending and the estimated maximum cost to public funds is £160,000.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the undertaking given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence, Mr Ivor Caplin, on 15 November 2004 (HC Deb, col. 1052) that he was prepared to meet Lord Freyberg and the Forces Pension Society once the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill had received Royal Assent, what meetings have taken place or are now scheduled.

Lord Bach: My honourable friend has written to Lord Freyberg to explain the work that has been taken forward in the Ministry of Defence on the possibility of a further measure to help particularly vulnerable groups of Armed Forces widows. I understand that a meeting has now been arranged between Lord Freyberg and the Veterans Minister.
	I am aware of the wider interest in this issue and will ensure a more general announcement is made in due course.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the statement made by a Government Minister to Lord Freyberg and the Assistant General Secretary of the Forces Pension Society on 14 October 2004, that if Lord Freyberg were to win a vote on his amendment to the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill relating to post retirement marriages, the Minister would withdraw the Bill, was in keeping with their policy on the Bill.

Lord Bach: During the passage of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill, my honourable friend the Minister for Veterans and I made clear that the new Armed Forces pensions and compensation schemes constituted a balanced package of benefits which would be neither coherent nor affordable if amended as proposed. Specifically, we indicated that we could not accept changes designed to include favourable elements of current arrangements alongside the improvements in the new schemes or which sought to tie the new schemes to unaffordable pensions legacy issues. It was our clearly stated policy to introduce improved schemes for the Armed Forces as set out in our proposals. We had, therefore, to conclude that the Bill would not be viable if the amendments were passed and that, were noble Lords to press their amendments, the Bill must therefore fall.

FiReControl Contract

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they now expect to sign the contract for the information technology systems behind FiReControl; and what has delayed the signing which was expected to have taken place this month.

Lord Rooker: The signing of the FiReControl infrastructure services contract has never been planned for January 2005. It is expected that the contract will be let in autumn 2005.

Schools: Gun Crime

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many instances of gun crime were recorded in schools in England and Wales, including (a) wounding of pupils; and (b) deaths of pupils, in each of the past five years.

Lord Filkin: This information is not gathered by the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office, or the Health and Safety Executive.

Teacher Recruitment

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What impact their decision to charge trainee teachers top-up fees from 2006 will have on teacher recruitment and specifically on the recruitment of mathematics teachers.

Lord Filkin: The Government have made clear their determination to continue the success that their teacher recruitment policies have brought over the past five years. In mathematics, recruitment to courses of initial teacher training this year is some 58 per cent higher than in 1999–2000.
	The Higher Education Act 2004 provides for courses of initial teacher training to continue to be part of the general fees and student support regime for higher education after September 2006, as they are at present. The Government will decide what additional incentives should be offered to trainee teachers, including mathematics trainees, in 2006–07 and beyond, in the light of the findings of Sir Alan Langland's review of gateways to the professions, which is due to report later this year.

Land-based Colleges

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many former agriculture colleges, now known as land-based colleges, are running at a financial loss.

Lord Filkin: Information about the number of land-based colleges in the further education sector that are running at a financial loss is not collected by the department. This is an operational matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to the noble Baroness with this information. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Children in Care

Lord Laming: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many young people in the care of local authorities are placed outside the boundary of the parent authority; and
	What action is being taken to ensure that young people in the care of local authorities are not placed outside their authority unless there are good childcare reasons for doing so.

Lord Filkin: The number of looked after children in England, either in a foster placement or children's home, based outside the area of the placing authority in England was 13,900, out of a total of 47,000 at 31 March 2003. This represents just under 30 per cent.
	The Government are determined to work with local authorities to reduce this figure. We know that, while some children need to be placed out-of-authority, many looked after children placed a long way from home suffer poorer educational and other outcomes than looked after children living in or near their own communities. That is why I shall be writing shortly to all local authorities in England to press them to develop strategies to ensure that they place looked after children out-of-authority only where their assessed needs clearly justify it.

Inheritance Tax: Estates

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the past 10 years, for which figures are available, what were the total number of estates on which inheritance tax was payable; and what was the total tax paid; and
	for each year since 1996–97, for which figures are available, what were the total number of estates on which inheritance tax was payable; and what was the total amount of inheritance tax payable for each of the following bands:
	(a) under £400,000;
	(b) £400,001 to £500,000;
	(c) £500,001 to £750,000;
	(d) £750,001 to £1,000,000; and
	(e) over £1,000,000.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Information on both the number of estates paying inheritance tax and the tax paid over the past 10 years can be found at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax–receipts/table1–4.xls and www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax–receipts/table1–2.xls.
	The available information on inheritance tax payable by estate size covers the period 1998–99 to 2001–02 and is published at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/inheritance–tax/table12–3.xls
	Data for 1997–98 and 1996–97 are at
	www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/inheritance–tax/table12–3–july03.xls and www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/inheritance–tax/table12–3–july02.xls respectively.

Inheritance Tax Rate

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the likely yield from levying a flat 10 per cent rate of inheritance tax on all estates with a taxable amount over £100,000, by comparison with the present arrangements.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Compared to the current IHT regime, reducing the tax rate to 10 per cent and lowering the threshold to £100,000 would cost £1.4 billion in 2005–06 on a full year basis.

Fairclough Report

Baroness Perry of Southwark: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made in implementing the recommendations contained in Sir John Fairclough's 2002 Report, Rethinking Construction Innovation and Research.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Although the Government have made good progress towards a number of the key recommendations within Sir John's report, the report has been overtaken by subsequent wider ranging reviews of government support for innovation and technology development.
	Following Sir John's report the Government challenged the Strategic Forum for Construction and nCRISP, the new Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel, to develop and own the strategic vision for the sector called for by Sir John. There has been some progress towards this goal but more needs to be done.
	The DTI technology strategy has helped introduce Sir John's recommendations for longer-term, larger, collaborative programmes of R&D procured on merit, focused on productivity. The emerging knowledge transfer networks will also reflect the centres and networks of excellence Sir John recognised as being crucial to long-term thinking. The onus is on the industry to make credible bids for funding under these arrangements.
	Sir John clearly set out the key role of government as client, as-well-as sponsor, regulator and policy maker. There has been progress in public sector clients acting as a driver for innovation, notably in Health and Education.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy: Resources

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What additional resources have been made available to health authorities, education authorities and police authorities, respectively, for the purposes of the Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Lord Warner: Primary care trusts are responsible for providing their populations with healthcare and deciding how to configure local services to meet the needs of local residents. Overall expenditure plans for the National Health Service indicate an average annual increase of 7.3 per cent in real terms between 2002–03 and 2007–08, a total increase of 42 per cent in real terms over the period.
	The Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills are jointly providing £5.7 million this year to support the national healthy schools programme, which supports teachers in improving physical and mental health of children and young people. This includes education on alcohol, as well as other important health issues.
	The police have received additional funding for participating in the alcohol misuse enforcement campaigns which took place over the summer and Christmas period last year. During the summer campaign which lasted for 33 days and took place in 92 basic command units (BCUs), the Home Office Police Standard's Unit spent £485,000 supporting proactive enforcement activity. The Christmas campaign lasted for 17 days, involved 188 BCUs and was supported with up to £140,000. The tackling violent crime programme has made available funding of £510,700 through crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

Road Schemes: Cost/Benefit Ratios

Lord Lea of Crondall: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Department for Transport's news release of 2 December 2004, what are the benefit/cost ratios of the major road schemes submitted by local roads authorities to the Department for Transport in 2004 and their position in the four bands of value for money; and whether they will release this information in future years as part of the annual announcement on the approval of schemes.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The attached table shows the agreed benefit to cost ratios (BCR) and value for money (VFM) categories of the road construction schemes that were submitted to my department as part of the local transport plan capital settlement 2004.
	The VFM categories take account of environmental, regeneration and other non-monetised impacts, as well as the BCRs. In addition to value for money, there are other considerations that may affect whether a project should go ahead, including:
	practicality;
	deliverability;
	public acceptability;
	distributional and equity impacts;
	affordability and finance sustainability;
	the achievement of central government, local and regional objectives; and
	the amelioration of identified problems.
	These factors are considered alongside the BCR and VFM when a decision is made on a major scheme.
	In a number of cases, BCRs and VFM assessments were not finalised due to outstanding modelling and appraisal issues.
	I can confirm that this information will be made available in future years as part of the annual local transport capital settlement.
	
		
			 Authority Scheme Benefit/CostRatio Value formoney category 
			 Kent Sittingbourne northern distributor route 5.8 high* 
			 Surrey A31 Hickley's corner underpass 2.3 high 
			 Kent East Kent access phase 2 4.1 high 
			 Liverpool Edge Lane west 3.2 high* 
			 East Riding Beverley integrated transport plan 5.2 high 
			 Cambridgeshire A142 Ely southern bypass 2.9 medium 
			 East Sussex Bexhill to Hastings link road 3.1 medium* 
			 Norfolk B1108 hospital access road 2.1 poor 
			 Northants A509 Isham-Wellingborough Not finalised Not finalised 
			 Oxfordshire A415 Marcham bypass Not finalised Not finalised 
			 Greater Manchester SEMMMS major road scheme Not finalised Not finalised 
			 Wigan A5225 Wigan gateway Not finalised Not finalised 
			 Greater Manchester Carrington-Irlam/Cadishead link, Phl Not finalised Not finalised 
			 Durham Durham northern relief road Not finalised Not finalised 
			 West Midlands-Birmingham City Council Chester Road access improvements Not finalised Not finalised 
			 West Midlands-Birmingham City Council Dudley Road traffic management stage two Not finalised Not finalised 
			 West Midlands-Sandwell A41/A4031 All Saints Way junction improvement Not finalised Not finalised 
		
	
	The starred (*) schemes were given provisional approval at the 2004 settlement.

Parking Enforcement: Removal of Vehicle Covers

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether traffic wardens and parking attendants are permitted to lift material used to cover a car parked in a parking bay, or a motorcycle parked on a pavement, in order to ascertain its identity and the right for the vehicle to be parked there.

Lord Davies of Oldham: While there is no specific legislation which permits, or prohibits, the removal of vehicle covers for the purpose of establishing its identity, it is an offence under Section 43 of the Vehicle Excise Registration Act 1994 to obscure a vehicle's registration plate. Parking attendants have a legitimate interest in determining registration details if they believe a vehicle is contravening a traffic law. I understand that parking attendants do remove covers to establish a vehicle's identity and it would be, ultimately, for the courts to decide on the legality of such actions.

Road Safety Cameras: Public and Media Awareness

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How public awareness and media understanding of safety cameras will continue to be achieved on a national basis once the role of the national communications manager of the Safety Camera Partnership (England and Wales) ceases to exist from 31 March 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Safety Camera Programme Office established within the Department for Transport in 2004 oversees the operation of the programme. Together with DfT Communications and Press Office staff, the programme office is responsible for public awareness and media understanding of the safety camera programme and its role in reducing road collisions, casualties and deaths—including the role which has previously been carried out by the National Safety Camera Liaison organisation. The individual safety camera partnerships each have a communications manager, to provide information on the programme and promote awareness among residents and local media. The department is also liaising with partnerships and will facilitate the setting up arrangements should they wish, for speaking nationally about the partnerships' work.

Dyslexia: Driving Test Arrangements

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What allowances and arrangements are made for people who are dyslexic when they are taking that part of the driving test that requires a person to "demonstrate their ability to read a number plate from the required distance prior to proceeding with the remainder of the test".

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Driving Standards Agency gives candidates who suffer from dyslexia the opportunity to write down the shapes of what they see on the number plate from the required distance.
	This ensures that even if the candidate cannot understand what the letters and numbers mean the examiner is sure that the shape has been recognised and the eyesight test successfully completed.

Lorries

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What investigations are under way to assess the possibilities of introducing heavier, longer or wider lorries or combinations of lorries and trailers onto some or all United Kingdom roads.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Mr David Jamieson) is considering applications from two hauliers for permission to trial longer and heavier, but not wider, goods vehicles. His officials are investigating the safety issues surrounding the vehicles, such as the manoeuvrability of the combination, stability and braking performance, and the impact of the vehicle on other road users.
	Longer and heavier goods vehicles are, however, used in Sweden and Finland where they are deployed for a unique purpose. They are also being trialled in the Netherlands.